Max
"So tell me, how old are you," Bibi asked once they took their seat while taking a sip from the heavenly porridge. I never expected that question at all. Habibi looked at me, then shrunk back in her chair, eating her porridge.
"Um... I am twenty-three... Bibi."
"Then why are you dating a minor?" I almost choked.
A minor?
Before I could process her words, Bibi abruptly guffawed, leaving me dumbfounded, and it was when I realized that she was pulling my legs.
"I'm only kidding." I sighed in relief. The last thing I wanted was to get arrested for dating a minor.
Wait, did I say dating? I internally shook my head.
"I was shocked when Habibi told me that she has a boyfriend. I mean, she was like, oh, I don't need a boyfriend. Oh my life is much better without a man." I could not help but chuckle at how dramatic Bibi is. Melissa, however, only rolled her eyes, which she loved doing a lot.
"I am curious, though, on how you two meet." She asked, curiosity shimmering in her aged eyes.
"At the bus," I started, remembering that unlucky day.
I once thought it was a good thing we kept running into each other, but now, I am not sure about it anymore.
"The bus? what bus?" Bibi asked, her brows furrowing, looking confused, but I wasn't going to explain further.
My gaze landed on Melissa, who was so silent that her presence almost vanished in the room.
What a coward!
Seeing that I was not going to save her this time, she sat upright in her seat.
"At the bus," She repeated.
"You know, the bus," she started, raking her fingers in her hair, definitely cooking another lie.
I would have come up with something more believable to help but Nah.
"When I was going on my trip, I sat next to him, and we talked, then it happened, just like that." she finished by taking a mouthful of porridge.
"Wow, when others bumps into each other or meet under the rain, you guys met inside a crowded bus. Original." she nodded her head.
"What do you call my daughter?"
"Crazy." I didn't know why but that was the first word that came out of my mouth.
I mean, who on earth would make up a story of having a boyfriend for their grandmother?
"Crazy?" She asked cocking her eyebrow at me.
"Yes. I mean, she drives me crazy, really crazy."
"But I call her beautiful when she is not annoying," I added upon seeing a glare sent my way by Melissa.
"Of course, she is beautiful. It runs in the blood." Bibi chuckled, trying to swipe her long white hair off her shoulder.
But before I could even reciprocate her soft laughter, Bibi unexpectedly became grave. All traces of laughter vanished, and she was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
I could not help but feel wronged.
I was now facing the most feared phase of all men. Which is being interrogated by their girlfriend's parents, but I am the innocent one here!
"Is Beauty the only thing that enticed you?"
"Of course not," Was my immediate response, but why did it feel like I was in much deeper trouble?
"What do you mean by 'Of course not.' Are you trying to say that my Habibi is ugly?"
What? When did I say that?
I looked at Melissa, my eyes begging for help, but that ingrate only smiled like she was enjoying my plight.
I am in this situation because of her, but she still has the guts to let me handle everything on my own? Is she not afraid that I might decide to spill the beans?
"Bibi, that is enough. You are scaring him away." Finally, she got some consciousness in her heartless heart.
"See, this is why I did not want you to meet him just yet."
"What is wrong with me asking easy questions? I only want you to be loved honestly, not because of your physical appearance or for pleas-" She didn't even get to finish the words as my supposed girlfriend hastily covered her mouth with her hand.
I, on the hand, was left speechless. I was stuck between dumbfounded and the urge to laugh at this duo.
I guess the saying about the apple not falling far from the tree is proper. They were both just crazy.
"Bibi, please, that's enough. How can you say such things? You are embarrassing me."
"What is so embarrassing about me stating the truth? You are both in a relationship, so it's apparent for the two of you to get intimate at some point, but..."
"Oh goodness, gracious! I am out of here!" This time, I could not hold it any longer and burst into fits of laughter, watching her flushed face, dying with embarrassment.
This Bibi knew how to turn people red.
"Oh, don't be shy, my beautiful girlfriend." I decided to get back at her by teasing her a little bit. If her Grandma could be this shameless, then there is no need for me to be reserved.
"After all, we are in a relationship. It's not like we shake hands and smile every time." I continued, enjoying the sight of her angry, annoyed, and blushing face.
"You see? even my boy knows all about this. And when I say you are a blockhead when it comes to relationships." A smug smile found its way to my lips, raising an eyebrow at Melissa, who I knew was cursing me inside her head.
"You are supposed to be on my side, Bibi." She said, pouting her lips, suddenly making my throat dry as my mind started to wander to forbidden thoughts.
"And you are supposed to be on his side." And I officially like this granny.
"As for you get, boy," Maybe too soon.
"You still haven't answered my question." And we are back to square one.
"Her beauty wasn't the only thing that attracted me, but her personality. She was a little bit out of it when we first met. Crazy is a good word to describe how she behaved." I chuckled, remembering how I got knocked out by her on the bus.
"Alright, Bibi, let's Ha...I mean. Max, let him have his drink first, or else it will get cold." That name again.
How I wish my name was something like that. I made a mental note to ask her who this Haze was.
If he is her lover, then why drug to her mess? Is he really that of a coward to meet Bibi?
Somehow, the thought of her having a secret lover made me angry and uncomfortable.
"Alright, then. But you can stop me from telling Max about your embarrassing childhood." Bibi's voice snapped me out of my wandering thoughts. My interest instantly was piqued at her words.
"No, Bibi..."
"She is crazy and cheeky too. Like there was this one time when she was around two, she peed on the bed. In fear that I would scold her-"
"Bibi!" Melissa quickly covered Bibi's mouth with her hand so that she wouldn't say a thing. I could hear giggles from her muffled mouth, reminding me of a distant memory.
A memory of a mother and daughter having fun like this by spilling each other secrets flashed in my head for a splitting second.
"Ouch!" Melisa removed her hands which seemed like Bibi had bitten her.
"She spilt water on the mattress to get rid of the smell but forgot that she was wearing the same clothes she peed on" I could no longer hold it, I guffawed.
I could only imagine Melissa as a child, all wet because of pee. Maybe her coming up with crazy ideas started way before.
It was easy to talk to Bibi than expected. She has this air around her that makes one relax.
We spent the rest of the day teasing the life out of Melissa.
She didn't say much, though.
As if she had given up on defending herself from us and succumbed to the embarrassment.
...
"I think it's time for me to leave now," I said, glancing at my watch only to see it was already dawn.
"It's been a wonderful day. Thanks for having me." I added, standing up, and so did the two women.
"Yes, you are right, my boy. Thank you so much for being here. I am glad that I've finally met you." She gave me a warm hug before her posture changed from warmth to cold and whispered.
"Now listen to my boy. My daughter is a golden egg that I treasure the most. So if you dare break her heart, a curse I shall send upon you, if you dare look at any other woman while you are still dating her, you will lose your manhood, how? You would never want to know that, right?" She let go of me and then squeezed my arms, giving me a big smile that only I could detect the threats visible in her eyes.
Swallowing, I nodded my head in affirmation.
What had I gotten myself into?
"Habibi, kiss your boyfriend goodnight and show him the way out." Melissa nodded her head and then pushed me slightly towards the door.
"Melissa, I said kiss him goodnight."
"Bibi, I am going to see him off, and there is no way I am going to kiss my boyfriend in front of you." Bibi was about to argue when I budged in to save time.
"She is a shy one," I said, leaning close to her.
Melissa leaned backward, staring at me warily, her big eyes gauging every movement of mine like a hawk.
Drawing an inaudible sighing at her guarded reaction, I held her shoulder firmly before landing a small kiss on her head. I felt her go stiff, her body tensing against my eyes. I could not help but smirk at how she is so reactive. Stepping back, I took Melissa's hands into mine. Saying my final goodbyes, we both stepped out of the house.
What a day!
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